Everytime Mark Wahlberg Tries to Leave, They Keep Pulling him Back In

You know, I get this feeling that Mark Wahlberg has done this exact same movie, but with different titles, about a half dozen times now. Or maybe it just all seems too familiar. In any case, Wahlberg has now signed on to star in an English-language remake of the Icelandic thriller “Reykjavik-Rotterdam”. The original film was directed by Oskar Johnasen, and is Iceland’s submission for Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Oscar.

In the original, Wahlberg’s character is an ex-freight ship worker who is fired for smuggling alcohol between Reykjavik and Rotterdam, and is now struggling to make end’s meat as a lowly security guard. Troubles arise, as they invariably do, when his best friend convinces him to sign on for that staple of heist movies everywhere — the one last job that can’t possibly go wrong, but, well, does. Our hero, though, is unaware that his BFF has an ulterior motive.

Obviously the film’s setting, as well as the title, will change to accommodate the new version.

The adaptation is being written by Aaron Guzikowski, whose spec script “Prisoners” Wahlberg was supposed to star in before dropping out. I guess the two of them were always meant to work together. The American remake will be directed by Baltasar Kormakur, who — get this — actually starred in the original. How’s that for coming full circle?